Inflatable carports can be a great tool for mechanics, detailers or homeowners that don’t have enough room in their attached garage for all their vehicles.
Of course, with a structure that looks more like a bounce house than a sturdy garage, you might be contemplating whether inflatable carports even work?
Inflatable carports are a high functioning alternative to attached garages or car shelters. They are useful for vehicular storage from the elements or as a separate space for mechanical/detail work. High-quality inflatable carports are made of professional 210D Oxford fabric and 0.4 PVC material, so they are moisture-proof, anti-UV, flame-resistant, and durable.
Read on to learn more about the features of inflatable carports and whether they are a worthy investment, particularly because they tend to much pricier than their more popular alternative, the standard carport.
What is an Inflatable Carport?
Inflatable carports, also known as inflatable garages or inflatable spray booths, have the same structural shape as an ordinary carport or shelter and are designed to be easily transported and provide increased protection from the elements.
Most standard carports are made of some form of metal, typically steel, aluminum, or tin, to provide structural integrity to the frame.
Some of these carports only have support rods and a roof, the material makeup of which can range from a simple plastic tarp to metal shingles, while others are completely covered in a sort of waterproof fabric.
Comparatively, an inflatable carport is typically made entirely of oxford cloth for the structure and PVC for any transparent features. They also come equipped with high-powered blowers for fast inflation and quality airflow.
Some of these carports will come with a built-in cloth floor to keep out any form of contaminants, while others only provide the inflatable structure.
As is the case with standard carports, the quality and size of inflatable carports can vary, but typically these products can cost anywhere from $500- to $1,200+.
This differs significantly from standard carports where you can buy a cheap and easily transportable option for $100 or a luxury and likely more permanent option for $1,000-$3,000.
What Makes an Inflatable Carport Work?
If the ultimate question is “do they work?” the answer is yes, inflatable carports work. The real question should be whether they are suitable for your needs.
Below is a list of inflatable carport features that might help you determine if this is the product you are looking for or if you are better off choosing a standard carport instead.
Durable Material
This carport is predominantly made with two materials, 210D Oxford fabric, and 0.4 PVC material.
Although these materials are a significant reason this product is much more expensive than some low-grade standard carports, their inclusion ensures maximum durability, stability, and safety.
210D Oxford Fabric
This fabric is often used in tent making, bags, and liners because it repels water and is resistant to rips and tears, making it the prime material for inflatable carports.
210D Oxford fabric is typically made from cotton or other fabric options that use warps combining two fine filaments that are then woven together to create a basket weave pattern.
The result is a sturdy and breathable fabric durable enough to withstand the elements.
Using this fabric for the structural integrity of the inflatable carport guarantees the product will withstand wear and tear while also being extremely light-weight and easy to inflate, deflate, and transport.
This company also went the extra mile to coat the 210D Oxford fabric with a PU coating to strengthen the carport’s ultimate durability, which is then supplemented with a double-stitched reinforced sewing application to prolong its service life.
0.4 PVC
All transparent features within the carport are made with thickened 0.4 mm PVC. This material is easy to see through and will allow a substantial amount of sunlight into space for optimal work lighting. There are also numerous benefits of this material, including:
- Waterproof
- Anti-UV
- Resistant to cold temperatures
- Resistant to mold
- Resistant to heat, flames, and moisture
- High-temperature heat sealed
By combining this thickened PVC with the Oxford fabric, you are guaranteed to have a product that will withstand daily mechanical work and constant bombardment from the elements while still being durable enough to transport as many times as necessary.
Quality Filtration System
The filtration system is an essential element of this inflatable carport, especially if you’re looking for additional space to perform mechanical work, car detailing, or car restorations.
Not only does the system keep all potential contaminants out of the carport. At the same time, it is properly zipped-up, but it also ensures maximum safety by blowing out any potentially dangerous fumes accumulating in the air.
This is done with high-powered blowers and a filter cotton window that constantly blows clean air into the space and eliminates any dangerous air pollutants.
As a result, you can work for as long as you like in this carport without worrying about foul odors or dangerous gasses ending your work sessions prematurely.
Inclusion of Two, High-Powered Blowers
Since this is a substantially sized inflatable product, it needs some high-powered blowers.
Thankfully, with your purchase of the Vevor carport, you get two blowers included with your purchase, an 1100-watt blower, and a 350-watt blower.
The 1100-watt blower is used for the filtration system to consistently provide the workspace with clean, fresh air while it is zipped-up and in use.
If you are using this carport simply for storage, you might only use this blower on occasion to replenish the space with clean air.
The 350-watt blower is used for inflation of the structure, and although the wattage is significantly lower than the blower used for the filtration system, this blower can inflate the entire carport in 3-5 minutes.
Therefore, if you want a carport you can easily whip out and set up at a moment’s notice, whether this is at home, a campsite, or a mechanic shop, then this is an exceptional option.
Extensive Zipper Design
It might seem like an inconsequential feature, but the extensive zipper design on this carport actually plays a key role in its overall functionality.
For one, this product has a double-sided zipper for easy passing internally and externally. Additionally, the zippers are built-in with fine lines and seams to prevent product air leakage and keep contaminants out of the storage/workspace.
Since this is an inflatable carport, it is essential that the structure maintains air for as long as the user needs, and so, the use of zippers strongly assists in product air retention.
Another benefit of this product is that zippers are built into the Oxford fabric for quick and easy deflation rather than trying to squeeze the air out of a plastic plug like a cheap air mattress.
Do Inflatable Carports Work in Winter?
Inflatable carports do work in the winter, but depending on the temperature, they might not be fully functional.
If you are hoping to use this carport to store your car in overnight temperatures lower than 32 degrees, you might have some difficulty.
For one, this is the temperature where snow becomes a factor, and if there is a significant amount of snowfall while your inflatable carport is up, it will likely pile onto your structure and weigh it down.
While most of these carports are supported by D-rings, stakes, and other metal features for increased stability, mass amounts of snow will ultimately cause it to cave-in or deflate.
Another element to consider is that your carport is likely to deflate much faster in the cold than it would in warmer temperatures.
This is a common issue you can see in many inflatable objects when they are subjected to cold temperatures, such as camping air mattresses, balloons, car tires, and so on.
If you are looking to store a car in your inflatable carport for a few hours, it will likely still work in the winter.
However, if your goal is to use the carport for mechanical or detailing purposes, this setup might not be the best.
Ultimately, space would be too cold without some sort of heater, which you would have to monitor closely, even if the product materials are flame/heat resistant.
Final Thoughts
Inflatable carports might not be the most popular option used today for car storage or a vehicular workspace, but they are certainly an exceptional alternative to the standard carport.
Comparatively, inflated carports supply a completely enclosed and filtered environment where you can safely store your car and protect it from dust, debris, and the elements.
In contrast, many standard carports will only shield your car from the sun and precipitation.
These products might be more expensive than a standard carport and won’t function as effectively in the winter, but they are far more versatile and cleaner, which warrants them a worthwhile investment.
Ok that’s it for this article. If you enjoyed reading it then why not check out some of our other posts around carports!
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